# US 12,760,602 B2 · Drill bit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,602 B2 - Document ID: US12760602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/003,159 - Filed: 2021-06-28 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-26 - Assignees: Zac Andrew Wilson - Applicants: Zac Andrew Wilson - Inventors: Nathan Andrew Brooks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760602B2 ## CPC - E21B 10/633: independently detachable - E21B 10/43: characterised by the arrangement of teeth or other cutting elements - E21B 10/55: with preformed cutting elements - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A drill bit assembly for making a hole in a subterranean formation, the drill bit assembly comprising: a connector body defining a centreline axis about which said connector body rotates while drilling; a plurality of blade members connected to the connector body and circumferentially arranged around the centreline axis to form a cutting blade having an outer diameter generally equal to a desired hole diameter, wherein each blade member comprises at least one aperture for receiving a cutting pin; and a removable sleeve positionable within the at least one aperture, the removable sleeve configured to rotatably engage with the at least one cutting pin to allow the at least one cutting pin to rotate within the removable sleeve when the drill bit assembly operates to make the hole in the subterranean formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drill bit assembly for making a hole in a subterranean formation the drill bit assembly comprising: a connector body defining a centerline axis about which said connector body rotates while drilling; a plurality of blade members mounted to the connector body and circumferentially arranged around the centerline axis to form a cutting blade having an outer diameter generally equal to a desired hole diameter, wherein each blade member comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a cutting pin; and a removable sleeve positioned within the at least one aperture, the removable sleeve configured to rotatably engage with the cutting pin to allow the at least one cutting pin to rotate within the removable sleeve to minimize wear at a point of engagement of the cutting pin, when the drill bit assembly operates to make the hole in the subterranean formation, wherein the blade members are configured to nest circumferentially around the centerline axis to form the cutting blade, wherein the outer diameter of the cutting blade is configured to be variable by adjusting a mounting position of each of the blade members on the connector body to adjust a nesting configuration of the blade members, positioning at least one protrusion into at least one complementary recess, bringing the blade member into an engagement position, and wherein each of said blade members includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface perpendicular to the first engagement surface, and wherein the blade members are configured so that the first engagement surface of one blade member engages a second engagement surface of an adjacent blade member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve includes a connecting arrangement for securing the removable sleeve within the at least one aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drill bit assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the connecting arrangement includes an outer threaded surface on the removable sleeve, and an inner threaded surface within the at least one aperture so that the removable sleeve threadingly engages the at least one aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the first engagement surface includes a second at least one protrusion, and the second engagement surface of the adjacent blade member includes a second at least one complementary recess for receiving the second at least one protrusion of the first engagement surface of the blade member for engagement of the adjacent blade members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including an adaptor for selectively positioning the blade members circumferentially around the centerline axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drill bit assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the adaptor includes a plurality of grooves circumferentially positioned around the centerline axis and wherein each groove is configured to receive one of the plurality of blade members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drill bit assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of blade members includes a tongue portion receivable within a respective groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cutting pin, the cutting pin having a leading tip portion for cutting into the subterranean formation and a trailing portion for coupling with the removable sleeve, wherein the removable sleeve is configured to rotatably engage with the cutting pin to allow the cutting pin to rotate within the removable sleeve when the drill bit assembly operates to make the hole in the subterranean formation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve comprises an inner surface configured to receive the cutting pin and the inner surface comprises a recess configured to receive a lock of the cutting pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drill bit assembly of claim 9, wherein the recess is configured to block an axial movement of the cutting pin relative to the removable sleeve along a longitudinal extension of the removable sleeve and allow a rotation of the cutting pin relative to the removable sleeve about a rotational axis extending in the longitudinal extension of the removable sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is formed as an integral piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is tubular and the removable sleeve comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the removable sleeve is configured to receive the cutting pin at a mounting post having a smaller diameter than a cutter body such that the cutting pin and the removable sleeve form a consistent profile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drill bit assembly of claim 12, wherein an inner diameter of the removable sleeve is generally constant over a longitudinal extension of the tubular removable sleeve, and an outer diameter of the tubular removable sleeve includes external threads while being generally constant over the longitudinal extension of the tubular removable sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutting pin comprises a mounting post, wherein the mounting post comprises a recess, wherein a snap ring comprising a spring lock is arranged in the recess of the mounting post, and wherein the spring lock interlocks with the removable sleeve allowing a rotation of the cutting pin relative to the removable sleeve about a rotational axis extending in a longitudinal extension of the cutting pin and locking an axial movement of the cutting pin relative to the removable sleeve in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cutting pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve and the cutting pin are configured such that during use of the drill bit assembly the removable sleeve wears out by rotation of the cutting pin within the removable sleeve faster than the blade member wears out. ### Claim 16 A drill bit assembly for making a hole in a subterranean formation, comprising: a connector body defining a centerline axis about which said connector body rotates while drilling; and a plurality of blade members mounted to the connector body and circumferentially arranged around the centerline axis to form a cutting blade having an outer diameter generally equal to a desired hole diameter, wherein each blade member comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a cutting pin, and a removable sleeve positioned within the at least one aperture, the removable sleeve configured to rotatably engage with the cutting pin to allow the at least one cutting pin to rotate within the removable sleeve to minimize wear at a point of engagement of the cutting pin, when the drill bit assembly operates to make the hole in the subterranean formation, wherein the outer diameter of the cutting blade is configured to be variable by adjusting a mounting position of each of the blade members on the connector body to adjust the circumferential arrangement of the plurality of blade members to allow the drill bit assembly to be used at variable diameters; wherein the blade members are configured to nest circumferentially around the centerline axis to form the cutting blade; and wherein each blade member includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface perpendicular to the first engagement surface, and wherein the blade members are configured so that the first engagement surface of one blade member engages a second engagement surface of an adjacent blade member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drill bit assembly of claim 16, further including an adaptor for coupling the connector body and the blade members, wherein the adaptor positions the blade members to achieve the cutting blade outer diameter equal to the desired hole diameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drill bit assembly of claim 17, wherein the adaptor includes a plurality of grooves circumferentially spaced apart and configured to receive a respective blade member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The drill bit assembly of claim 18, wherein each blade member includes a tongue portion receivable within a respective groove for engagement with the adaptor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The drill bit assembly of claim 16, wherein the connector body comprises at least one protrusion and at least one of the plurality of blade members comprises at least one recess, and the at least one protrusion is received in the at least one recess. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The drill bit assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one protrusion is positioned at a base portion of the connector body and extends in a direction towards the plurality of blade members. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The drill bit assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one recess is formed in an underside of the respective blade member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The drill bit assembly of claim 20, wherein a variation of a location of the at least one protrusion varies the outer diameter of the of the cutting blade.